My first-ever article on Fstoppers condemned the use of presets and inspired photographers to focus on creating their own color grades and styles. Looking back, I still stand by some of those points, but not all of them. You see, while using presets is bad, creating your own presets might actually be beneficial to your photography and editing workflow.
Camera technology has advanced at a breakneck pace in the last decade, and now, we are on the doorstep of an AI revolution that will cause a fundamental shift in the way we work with, and in some cases, even in the way we create images. And while many of those tools have made our lives easier, they have arguably also sapped creativity from a lot of the craft. Have we lost the fundamental aim of photography? This fantastic video essay discusses the issue.
When it comes to portraiture, for the most part, 85mm is the traditional choice, with focal lengths around that number also seen as alternatives, such as 50mm, 100mm, and 135mm. 35mm is often used for portraiture, though it is rarely thought of as a primary option, being just a little wide for closer shots. Nonetheless, one well-known portrait photographer actually prefers 35mm above all other focal lengths, and this great video shares why, along with a wide range of images demonstrating its benefits.
The 85mm prime is a pretty highly regarded focal length for a lot of portrait photographers, with most boasting a deliciously wide maximum aperture. But is it simply too awkward a focal length?
There have been some magnificent improvements in the abilities of cameras over the last few years, not least in lenses and camera focusing systems. The technical advancements have almost taken camera skills out of our hands. But is this good or bad for photography?
It’s no secret that COVID put a bit of a damper on anything in person, especially large group gatherings, like conferences and trade shows. But as time has moved on, has the photo conference world fully recovered?
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, whether photographers like it or not. So, what are some ways photographers can leverage it rather than fear it?
The firmware update version 1.8.1 offered Canon EOS R5 users the ability to capture a stunning 400-megapixel image. You may ask yourself if this has any real benefit over the standard 45-megapixel resolution, but it’s nice to have. How useful is the option in real life? Let’s find out.
Without a doubt, social media has revolutionized the experience, dissemination, and even creation of photographs. Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter have leveled the playing field in a lot of ways, allowing photographers to instantly share their work with hundreds or thousands of followers. Combined with the availability of high-quality cameras in smartphones and social media algorithms, the number of images disseminated to the world has absolutely exploded. Despite this democratization of the craft, has social media actually diminished the value of photography?
AI has been the talk of the town around the photography industry for a few months now, with opinions ranging from it being a fantastic tool that will significantly reduce and streamline photographers' workflows to it being the death knell of many parts of the industry. This interesting video essay features an experienced commercial photographer offering some more pragmatic and balanced thoughts on how AI will change the industry.
What’s keeping you from being the photographer or even the artist that you hope to be? How much of it is under your control, and what can you do to get past the roadblocks?
Shutterfest stands out as my favorite photography conference to attend each year! As I write this, I am wrapping up day three of the affair. I always look forward to the various workshops, lectures, and unique experiences available throughout this fun-filled event like no other.
I recently posed a challenge to DALL-E 2 (or to myself?) to mimic one of my photos using prompts. I didn't think it was actually going to work, until it did. Almost.
A few brief words on why it sometimes pays to have more hands in the kitchen when cooking up a creative project.
A new Finnish startup business, Huhtikuu Yksi, offers software that unlocks advanced functionality in basic camera models and standardizes features from different brands. I interviewed the company's CEO, Harri Tyhmäläinen.
In the land of the photographer, times are harder than ever before, with companies ending their contracts at lower levels and shoots being less available, with budgets cut and a huge number of working photographers facing hard times. With all this uncertainty in the world, can we really survive doing what we love and live comfortably?
Street photography is a realm of photography that carries enormous weight. A genre derived from some of the world's photographic pioneers — the big names. The generations taking cameras to the front lines of war, documenting death, destruction, humility, and the human spirit, and bringing it home to document the everyday. It’s a genre of photography like no other, and here’s why you should be shooting it.
I just got a new camera! Well, sort of.
There are many reasons why we take photographs. It's the intrinsic motivation that has the greatest value, and for me, it has paid off. Have you discovered why you should be seeking that and neither the money nor a pat on your back?
On the never-ending camera buyer’s merry-go-round? Here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Being a professional photographer can be extremely demanding and can easily lead to burnout and/or a loss of passion for the craft. And yet, many professionals persevere into that dangerous territory out of the need to constantly churn out fresh material. It does not always have to be that way, though. This interesting video features a seasoned professional discussing how he stepped away from his camera for a couple of months but still moved his business forward.
Automation is now an integral part of photography. There are innovative ways you can use it to make your workflow run like clockwork and allow you the time to concentrate on your creativity.
Let’s chat a bit. Have you ever stopped to think why you chose photography over all other avenues of artistic expression?
My business insurance has rocketed in price this year with a 33% increase. Yet, I would not do without it. Like anything with monetary value, cameras can be targeted by thieves. That risk is growing.
In last week’s article, I discussed three mistakes to avoid when building a career as a photographer or filmmaker. Today, let’s look into three broader concepts that you might want to lean into.
Katelyn James answers the most common questions she gets about the Canon R6. She's done a ton of videos on the R6, but there are still more questions here that get answered. Like, are low megapixels an issue with the R6? This is the video to watch.
When it comes to photography, your purpose can feel a little vague. While that may not necessarily be a problem, a little focus — if you'll excuse the pun — can push you forward and improve your work.
There are times when achieving a balanced exposure across your entire image is ideal, ensuring that you don't lose the details in your shadows and highlights. But, some of the most interesting images do not follow that rule whatsoever, and you should try shooting that way too.
If you find yourself struggling during the colder, darker seasons, you're far from alone. In this video, Aidin Robbins goes through how he combats winter burnout and how you can, too.
Photography has come a long way since its invention in the 19th century. Starting off as a status symbol usually associated with the rich, it has grown far and wide to become one of the most common ways of artistic expression. As it grew more and more, it also sparked the rise of some worrying tendencies. In this article, we will discuss some of the most worrying tendencies that plague modern photography.
The impact of smartphones on photography has been well documented and profound. One lesser-discussed element of smartphones' influence on photography, however, might be the change in what photographers now want and expect from dedicated cameras.
Recent research shows that there are excellent reasons why you should abandon the camera phone that have nothing to do with how good the pictures are. There’s a darker side to camera phones that we ignore at our peril.
Fujifilm cameras have been popular for decades, but in the past few years, they have released bodies that are fully in vogue and thus difficult to find. Are they worth the hype? Should you buy a Fujifilm camera in 2023?
Modern camera gear evolves at a breakneck pace, and as such, it can be tempting to watch the news of the latest and greatest cameras and lenses and pull out your credit card. When should you actually drop the money to upgrade your gear, and when should you turn your attention elsewhere? This helpful video essay discusses the topic and might just help you save a lot of money and improve your images at the same time.
Although it sounds like a nasty disease, like athlete's foot or tennis elbow, the photographer's eye isn't that. We take our eyes for granted, and they are an essential part of photography, both metaphorically and literally.
Some brands attract vitriol to a degree that is hard to fathom. Typically, they are expensive brands that many photographers do not believe can justify their price. At the top of that pile is Leica, and yet, the brand has die-hard followers and disciples.
The advice I often hear on the internet is this: choose a photography genre and stick to it. I want to float the idea of developing your style instead and shooting what you’re passionate about. I’m not talking about the jack of all trades approach, but developing your skills in a few genres that you like and come naturally to you.
Addiction. Hedonism. Chasing the dopamine hit. Just another taste. Just one more like. Ok, maybe 10, then I’m done. I swear it’s all I need! Here’s what I’m doing. Here’s what I’ve done. Here’s who’s doing this and hey, look, I’m present. Lifting the lid on the banality of everyday life. Journalists of the quotidian. Instagram is not what it used to be. We can all agree to that. And no truer is that than from the perspective of the humble photographer. Surely, it’s time to grow up, isn’t it?
There are probably two main software options when it comes to the processing of Fuji raw files that most photographers tend to use, Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. The choice, however, depends on the user's personal preferences, as both have their strengths and weaknesses.
I had planned to write a love letter to C-stands, but then I remembered this video that caught my attention a year ago. Trigger warning; this video is not that new, but C-stands aren’t either, and they happen to be one of the most valuable pieces of kit I have ever laid my hands on. The video goes through the many, many ways in which to make use of them, and, I must say, in a very entertaining way.
According to Taylor Jackson, we're all Sony shooters, whether we like it or not. With the majority of today's cameras carrying Sony's imaging sensors, are we all becoming Sony shooters without even knowing it?
Street photography is one of those wonderful genres that encourages us to break convention and what we know to be "right" in the big bad, world of the still image. It's one of the few genres, I feel at least, that can encompass all manner of emotions, from humor and lightheartedness to tone, shape, ambiguity, surrealism, and hard-hitting realism at any time.
With ON1 Photo Raw 2023 having just won a Pop Photo Award for its AI features, it is apt to compare the app with Lightroom next. How would it stand up to different camera raw files?
Today, I will definitively answer an age-old question. Or perhaps, more likely, pontificate on something that all people and all artists have been asking since the beginning of time.
I consider myself a Canon shooter through and through. This article isn’t about one camera manufacturer being objectively better or worse than another.
The age of AI is here, and like it or not, the barn door is open and the horse is out. With the ability to quickly generate believable images with minimal input, what does it mean to be a photographer in 2023? What is photographic purpose? This worthwhile video essay discusses the subject.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the photography industry by automating many tasks that were previously done manually. This has the potential to greatly impact the way photos are taken, edited, and shared. Should we be worried about AI or embrace it?
